Tate Ratledge, IOL, Georgia
Size:
Height: 6064
Weight: 308
Arm: 32 ¼”
Hand: 10 ⅜”
Accomplishments:
Second Team All-American (2023) • All-SEC First Team (2023)
“Tate Ratledge has the combination of physicality, strength, and IQ to project to be a NFL starter and true anchor piece for the interior of an offensive line in the NFL.”
Strengths:
Strength at the point of attack/run blocking
Physical, violent temperament
Athleticism and lateral agility
High football IQ
Concerns:
Balance and body control
Overaggressive
Injury in 2024
Film Analysis:
Tate Ratledge is an experienced interior offensive lineman with the versatility to play both right guard and left guard at the next level. He played a key role in leading a Bulldog rushing attack that consistently set the tempo with its physical, dominant run-blocking unit. Ratledge combines strength, power, athleticism, and football IQ, making him a skilled interior offensive lineman with numerous translatable traits for the NFL.
As a run blocker, Ratledge has a quick first step. Paired with his overall power, he can generate movement along the line of scrimmage, either sustaining the line or displacing defenders. He plays with a strong base, making initial contact and maintaining blocks. Additionally, Ratledge possesses the strength in his hands to latch onto defenders and control the rep. His athleticism is evident in his ability to climb to the second level and engage defenders, creating running lanes for ball carriers.
In pass protection, Ratledge's best reps occur when he maintains a solid base, shoots his hands effectively, and anchors against interior rushers. He demonstrates strong spatial awareness, understanding the roles of the center and tackle alongside him, and does a good job of controlling his gaps. Ratledge’s football IQ shines through in how he picks up twists and stunts, and he consistently scans for delayed blitzers, showing the reactionary athleticism to retrace and pick them up. His powerful frame works to his advantage, as he prefers full-body contact, forcing defenders to go through his frame to gain penetration. This allows Ratledge to use his strength to anchor and prevent defenders from getting through with their rush.
Ratledge's area for improvement centers around consistency. While he puts together great reps in both the run game and pass protection, there are moments where his technique falters. Ratledge’s identity as a physical player, combined with his aggressive temperament, sometimes leads him to become too aggressive. This results in him over-extending, which can cause balance issues when making contact with defenders in both pass protection and the run game. His lack of balance can lead to defenders shedding him more easily and winning the rep.
Overall, Ratledge has an ideal skill set and violent temperament suited for gap/power schemes, making him a strong candidate to be an immediate starting interior offensive lineman in the NFL.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Clemson (2024), Ole Miss (2024), Texas (2024), Auburn (2023), Florida (2023), Tennessee (2023), Alabama (2023)
